The World Bank, is implementing the second cycle of 680 subprojects under the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project for 48 districts in the six regions.
The regions are Upper East, West, Northern, Savannah, North East and Oti.
The SOCO project which is being implemented through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, is aimed at addressing drivers of fragility, improving access to basic services, and fostering economic and social inclusion, particularly among youth, women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
It is a regional initiative that involves Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin and it seeks to strengthen the resilience of communities in the northern corridor through five components, including community infrastructure investments, support for livelihoods and youth, institutional capacity building,
Ms Elizabeth Dwamena, the Communication Specialist for the SOCO Projects, made this known to The Ghanaian Times in an interview here in Tamale.
She said the SOCO Project was Ghana’s response to addressing fragility, conflict risks, and climate vulnerabilities in border-zone communities.
Ms Dwamena stated that during the first cycle of implementation, the project delivered 530 communities infrastructure subprojects, out of which 489 were completed and handed over to the communities early part of 2025.
She said these projects spanned critical areas such as health, education, road connectivity, water, and market infrastructure, directly enhancing the quality of life for residents in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
“The first cycle also saw the creation of over 6,200 jobs—both interim and permanent—benefitting especially women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), who had been central to the project’s inclusive approach,” she said.
This, she said would go a long way in building on the outcomes, adding that the second cycle of implementation prioritises deeper community engagement and expansion of access to social services.
Ms Dwamena also stated that in the Northern Region, districts such as Karaga, Saboba, Gushegu, Yendi, Tatale-Sanguli, and Sagnarigu were benefitting from the construction of classroom blocks, teachers’ quarters, CHPS compounds, youth centres, and mechanised boreholes.
She said the projects also included the rehabilitation of roads and the construction of culverts to connect previously isolated communities.
Ms Dwamena added that, the sub-projects span classroom and cassava processing facilities, ICT centres, and the provision of school furniture.
This, according to her, the emphasis was on addressing education, sanitation, and water needs while also promoting agro-processing and entrepreneurship at the local level.
She said the regions were also witnessing significant interventions in healthcare delivery, early childhood education, markets, sports infrastructure, community roads, and water access.
She also disclosed that the projects such as the rehabilitation of dams, livestock markets, drainage systems, and community centres were creating both economic and social transformation.
“Markets like the Nangbag-Yapala livestock market in the Sagnarigu Municipality provide jobs, structured trading spaces, and better services for local farmers and traders,” she stated.
The communication specialists also added that each subproject had been developed based on community needs assessments, with full participation of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAS), community facilitators, traditional leaders, and community members.
She said the participating planning process ensures that the investments were demand-driven, context-specific, and locally monitored, fostering both ownership and sustainability.
Ms Dwamena added that the second cycle of implementation reflected the government’s broader commitment to promoting equity, stability, and inclusive growth in vulnerable communities.
She stated that, this signalled continued investment in infrastructure that not only bridges development gaps but also help to reduce the risk of conflict by improving access to services and economic opportunities.
Ms Dwamena also stated the SOCO Project exemplified how strategic, community-driven investments could bridge development divides, foster social cohesion, and safeguard communities from the spillover effects of regional conflict and climate threats.
She said through deliberate planning, local partnerships, and a strong focus on resilience, the Government of Ghana was demonstrating that inclusive development was not only possible but essential for lasting peace and prosperity.
FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, TAMALE
